Blog Break

 MWB Bloggin' Will Resume
Monday 02-23
Stay in The Word!
Miles of Smiles, Beverly

Read What Is Written

Have you ever been mis-quoted or had your words twisted into something you did not say n or mean? I suppose it's true that "silence is seldom misquoted." Although we deserved His silence, I'm so glad God wasn't silent after man sinned. God not only spoke to man after the fall, He carefully chose men to write down His words. "It is written" appears 311 times in Scripture. Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." (Matthew 24:35). How wonderful God's words are written down ... written down and intended that we should read them! It's most unfortunate, however, many Believers don't read God's words; further troubling is the fact that God's words have been twisted into something God never said. Did you know those who handle money spend time training to recognize both real and counterfeit money? Interestingly, they don't study the counterfeit, the fake bills; no, they carefully study the real, the authentic tender. In the same way, if we do not know The Truth as God delivered it to His chosen writers, we will never identify what is counterfeit, what is untrue. Do you faithfully read God's Word? If not, I suggest you're a prime target for Satan's lies, deceit and the twisted truth. Only you can change that: ask God for the grace you need to love Him so intensely you want to read what He has written. Wanna know truth? Read what is written!

Treasure The Treasure

As graduating high school seniors, it was customary to write a "last will and testament." As I recall, most were quite humorous especially since the opening line was "I, being of sound mind." It was usually downhill from there! Let me propose most of the bad behavior we witness today is the result of bad doctrine ... poor teachings and weak principles for life. Several places in Scripture, Paul refers to "sound doctrine," and that word "sound" simply "healthy." Truth is, many guiding principles today just are not healthy nor do they encourage right living. One Bible commentator writes, "Right thinking is the raw material for right actions." How have we missed the soundness of mind that leads to righteous actions? One clear answer we find in Psalm 119:11 - "Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You." (Psalm 119:11 NASB). We have failed to identify the key treasure - that is, the treasure of God's Word! We've substituted other voices - the otherwise sound minds of our day - and the results are disastrous. "How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word" (Psalm 119:9 NASB). God's unchanging Word remains firm in all seasons and every circumstances of life; It is unwavering in Its guidance for good spiritual health. Yes, it is sound in the purest sense. We have lost our way but there is hope; the way back is ... treasure the Treasure.

Focus and Hold Fast

While life-drama happens, most of us can do without the drama! While we love to read David's psalms of peacefully quiet times, he had a lot of less-than-peaceful days during his lifetime. Psalm 2 speaks of periods of time when kings and rulers raged and plotted against the Godly. By the way, that could be today's headlines! This psalm proclaims The Messiah, God's only Son (Jesus) installed in Zion, the holy mountain, Who has been given [by God] the nations and the very ends of the earth (V.6-8). "You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware." (V.9). In these days when fear and despair threaten to upend us, let us do as is commanded: "Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to The Son that He not become angry, and you perish in the way ... How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!" (V.11-12). Really, spiritual peace and rest is a matter of focus and discipline; setting aside those things which draw us away from The Father and diminish Christ [in us]; it is embracing and holding fast to The Rock, The Refuge, The Strong Tower, The Deliverer. Focus and hold fast.

First Call

Perhaps you remember the 1984 comedy "Ghostbusters," and their byline: "who ya gonna call?" Those who called them had no idea what to expect, and in some cases regretted the call! God said in Psalm 50:15, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” It's not uncommon that we have a list of emergency contacts who get the first call when we're in need. Sometimes those we call, however, are unavailable or unable to deliver us from whatever trouble we are facing. God isn't telling us we shouldn't an emergency contact list, however, He is making Himself known He is the One His children should call, and deliverance is certain. God is of unlimited power ... omnipotent. Furthermore, unlike a 911 operator who will ask "what is the nature of your emergency," God is also all-knowing (omniscient); there is no knowledge outside of Himself. It is imperative we comprehend the full scope of these truths: God is unaware of nothing (He knows everything), and He possess the full power to deliver. I must confess my emergency contact list is in a particular order, as I suppose it should be. Because God is all-knowing and all-powerful - He also never sleeps nor slumbers - and He has promised to uphold His children by His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10), there really is none other so equipped to rescue us from our troubles. Where is God in your list of emergency contacts? He should be our ... first call.